July 2018 President’s Corner

Although the calendar might indicate otherwise, those of us in administration know that summer is essentially over. Most summer courses are finishing up. Syllabuses, schedules, conferences, retreats and new students are pushing at the back edge of July and the front corner of August. Before we know it, we will once again be standing in front of classes trying to influence the world.

But before you let the threat of time pollute your remaining days of freedom, I have a personal request for all BEA members interested in the art, science and technology of visual media. Please let me know asap if you are interested in participating in a 2019 BEA initiative related to photojournalism and electronic media storytelling. What’s the initiative? I want you to tell me.

Multimedia and transmedia now are represented virtually every arena related to journalism, corporate communication and entertainment. At the least, BEA is an ideal academic outpost for photojournalists, multimedia storytellers, and electronic artists. Mixing traditional and emerging visual and audio media is still an exciting arena for new opportunities and challenges that educators can’t ignore, and we know that hundreds of potential BEA members can bring their enthusiasm and expertise to the organization.

In fact, with the technology spectacle represented at the NAB equipment show every spring, it is not unreasonable to think that BEA can be the home for any creative academic soul who understands and utilizes the purity of still images, the impact of cohesive video and sound, the beauty of infographics and animation, and the types of diverse narrative synchronicity that can bring it all together – not to mention the thousands of research opportunities that come along with those interests. This is especially true for those of us who crave the technology shopping opportunity at NAB, as well as the challenge of setting new standards for visual purity, audio clarity and storytelling impact.

Yes, I know that all of you have thought about this. And most of you are teaching mixed media. I have no doubt that you understand the positive implications for students who know how to effectively exploit the creative tools. Let’s figure out together how to find, and bring more academic photojournalists, animators, designers, iPhone enthusiasts, and narrative integrators to BEA. Ideas? Please email me at gluft@colostate.edu.

And, before I forget, I need to let you know that while we BEA members were closing out the spring semester and cleansing our academic year palates with summer fun, the BEA staff was digging in. I like to think that during one year in office, a president’s most important obligation is to stay out of the way while Heather, Traci, JD, committees, and members do the stuff that has to be done. It seems to be working.

For proof, take a look at the website for the latest updates and information regarding the dozens of organizational activities and initiatives, including but not limited to BEA On-Location in Houston; upcoming deadlines and processes for panel submissions for BEA2019; the Get Two-Free RENEW membership drive; JoME’s August 1 deadline for creative submissions; a spring 48-hour audio doc Student Media Club competition to join the fall Film-48 competition; TV News Check & BEA’s Disrupt the News challenge; new NAB Pilot Technology in Media scholarships; information about the World Journalism Education Congress 5 in Paris; the 2019 Festival of Media Arts; application information for the Radio Show Student Scholar Program, and of course all of the other details associated with running the Premiere International Academic Media Organization.

When you’re done taking a look, share the website with the less fortunate souls who still need to get involved with BEA. Make sure they know that BEA is all about multimedia, multi-faceted views of the media galaxy, and multi-talented people who have boundless energy, and dreams to fulfill all of our electronic media teaching aspirations.